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Friday, 26 July 2013

Small Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial...

Today's tutorial shows how to make a small, lined drawstring bag; one that's just the right size for gifting a bar of soap. Of course, it could be used for any number of purposes, as well as gift wrapping... jewellery storage when travelling, a makeup bag or even somewhere to keep sewing bits and pieces.

All seams are 1cm (3/8"), unless otherwise indicated. I didn't need to use any pins when I made this bag. If you find you need to pin the seams...

pin

baste (hand sew with a long stitch)

remove pins

stitch seam with machine

remove basting

Sewing the lining:

With right sides together sew each side seam, continuing around the bottom corners.

Leave a gap of 5cm (2"), across the bottom edge.

Probably not necessary, but I neaten the edges. Open the bottom seam and sew separately, otherwise you will sew the opening shut.

Sewing the exterior:

On both long sides measure and mark 4cm (1.5") and 5cm (2") from the top edge. This will be the opening for the drawstring casing. The width of the opening will depend on the width of the cord. If in doubt, make the opening larger rather than smaller.

With right sides together, sew from the top edge to the first mark. Backstitch to secure.

Backstitch as you start and sew from the second mark to the bottom.

Repeat Steps 2 & 3 for the other side.

Sew across the bottom.

Neaten each side of the side seams separately by opening out the edges. I wouldn't skip neatening the edges for this step, as it will prevent stray threads from coming out with the drawstring cord.

Secure the drawstring opening, by sewing back and forth a couple of times at both ends of the opening.

Stitch the seam on either side down. With steps 2 & 3, you are basically sewing a square around the opening.

Attach the lining to the exterior of the bag:

Place the bag inside the lining. ie: the right side of the bag is next to the right side of the lining.

Line up the top edges of the lining and the exterior.

Sew the top edges of the lining and the exterior.

As you sew over the side seams, make sure the exterior and lining seams are facing in opposite directions to avoid bulk.

Neaten the seam.

Turn the bag right side out:

Put your fingers through the hole in the bottom of the lining.

Gently pull the right side of the bag out through the lining.

Edgestitch the gap in the lining closed, or you can hand stitch if you would prefer.

Topstitching:

Push the lining back into the bag.

Press the top edge of the bag.

Topstitch 3mm (1/8") from the edge, around the top of the bag, using a slightly longer stitch. I set my machine to 2.8

Drawstring Casing:

Stitching through both the exterior and lining, sew around the bag, starting and ending at the top of the opening for the drawstring. Line up the the edge of the bag with something on the machine to help keep the stitching straight.

Repeat step 1, starting and ending at the bottom of the opening for the drawstring. Line up the second row of stitching with the first row.

Cords:

Using a safety pin, thread the first cord through the entire drawstring casing. Both ends of the one cord will come out of the same opening.

Repeat with the second cord and the second opening.

Knot the ends of each cord.

The cord I used was a snug fit in the casing, so I used a bodkin (not threaded) to help. You could just as easily use a chopstick, tweezers or any long thin implement. Note the instructions at the beginning for sewing the exterior. The width of the opening will depend on the width of the cord. If in doubt, make the opening larger rather than smaller.

The cords might be a little hard to pull the first couple of times. If you find this happens, just pull and loosen a couple of times.

That's it. You've finished! This really is a quick and easy project, so I whipped up three little bags.

The first little drawstring bag has made its way across the country and has been given as a birthday present, along with the crazy patchwork pouch. And what did I put inside the drawstring bag... lovely handmade soap I picked up at local markets.

You can't go wrong having a supply of pretty, nicely made (i.e. no raw edges, and finished nicely) gift bags in different sizes and prints. I've been buying fun yarns @ the thrift store to plait (braid) ties for mine - a bobbly drawstring makes even a plain bag look fancy! I even bought, a while ago, a lucet to use to make drawstrings - if I could find it, I could use it on some of the fun yarn I've found recently, and I could get cracking on some Christmas gift bags :D

Hi! dear Pam. My name's Nina, portuguese and craft addict.I met you in a Brasilian blog and I'd love if you want we follow each other.Please, come to visit me, decide, and let me know your decision.I wish you a very pleasant weekend.xoxoNina

Pam, these little bags are wonderful looking and have wonderful possibilities. Thanks so much for the great tutorial. You did a beautiful job on the bags and on the tutorial. I tried to pin it, but something has gone whackey with my Pinterest Boards and nothing seems to go through when I try to pin anything.

Hello. Having a little trouble understanding this step (I copied and pasted since each step starts its own set of numbers):

Attach the lining to the exterior of the bag:

Place the bag inside the lining. ie: the right side of the bag is next to the right side of the lining. Line up the top edges of the lining and the exterior.

I'm not getting it with the picture. I purposely made my lining a solid color and the outer side print. I can attach a pic on your face book page (since blogger isn't set up for pics in this format). I'm jc smitty on face book. Thanks.

Finally got a chance to make this! I made one to coordinate with a diaper bag that I sewed for a friend. Great tutorial!!! http://roonieranching.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-complete-diaper-bag-ensemble.html

This tutorial was awesome and I love my new bag. I wasn't sure how to add the photo to the flicker page thing so I thought I would post a link to what I made here. http://spellfinder.tumblr.com/post/82444893230/made-a-cute-drawstring-pouch-im-really-impressed

Thanks so much for sending me the link, Katherine. The bag looks great... love the floral fabric contrasting with the green! I'd really like to show your bag to my readers in a future roundup. Would you mind if I used your photo, of course linking back to your bag?

Hello Pam, I bought a pattern to learn to do this. Cut all those pieces and stared at them for days before I gave up and found you. Boy am I glad I did! Finished one in about an hour. Excellent tutorial. Thank you!

Don't know if my comment showed up or not. Sorry if it did. But I want to know if we can sell the bags we make? I don't want to sell anything based on your pattern without permission. I know some people don't care but since you haven't specified I wanted to ask.

Thanks so much. I was asked to make something for a charity craft fair at the weekend. I've only ever made clothes before, so this was my first ever craft project. I made two little bags and am delighted with the result. Your instructions are perfect! I added a photo to your Flikr group. And I'll definitely be making more of these.